Top HS boys’ girls’ goalies in world to compete in Guardian National Championships in Manheim, PA

The best boys’ and girls’ high school goalies in the United States, Canada and beyond will compete in July in the inaugural Guardian National Championships in Manheim, PA.

This championship-style combine will be held at the new Spooky Nook – the largest indoor complex in North America – and is expected to draw a large number of college coaches seeking to see who will be crowned “Guardian” of their age group.

Thirty boys’ and girls’ goalies each in four age classes will be selected by a panel of goaltending legends. The girls’ event will be held July 22-24 and the boys’ combine is July 29-31.

The selections for this prestigious event are being made by a world class selection board, where every member has coaching and/or playing experience at the professional or international level.

The goaltenders will be graded through their questionnaire and game footage (links), sent collectively in the application process. Because of the invitational nature of the event, there cannot be any current NCAA coaches who hold positions on this board due to NCAA regulation.

The players selected will receive instruction and compete in a controlled environment where all contestants take shots against the same elite college players in identical conditions.

Guardian National is the vision of professional lacrosse goalie Ginny Capicchioni. Capicchioni was the first woman in North America to sign with a men’s professional team (National Lacrosse League), the first woman to play in a men’s professional lacrosse game, the first American-born keeper to play in a Canadian Lacrosse National Championship, and the first woman to play for a men’s national team in any sport.

“It will be exciting and an honor to get picked to attend,” Capicchioni said, adding that all attempts will be made to include goalies from around the world. “It really will be a significant thing. Goalies have taken a back seat when it comes to teaching and recruiting. Our objective is also to make it enjoyable.

“This is the one and only time that the goalies are competing completely by themselves. All of the goalies are exposed to the same situations and the same shooters. They will see how they truly match up.”

Capicchioni said extensive NFL-combine type footage will be taken for each goalie and the footage will be made available free for coaches that attend. Those that cannot attend can purchase access to the tapes.

Different from past examination of goalies, the Guardian National Championship places the most significant emphasis on the productivity of the goalie, and not the technique or style. The goaltender is asked to stop the ball, to begin their team’s offensive attack, and to be the leader of his or her team defense.

The competition is based on a patent pending “Guardian Method” points competition, which is unlike any other showcase event. The shooters for the National Championship will consist of college level and above. The goaltenders will be evaluated FOR the next level BY the next level.

Capicchioni has an extensive background in playing and coaching.

Some of her teams have included USA World Team (2011), New Jersey Storm (NLL), Coquitlam Adanacs (WLA), the Kentucky Stickhorses (NALL) and Baltimore Bombers (NALL). Capicchioni also owns the company, Guardian Lacrosse, which trains male and female goalies in the tri-state area.

“Ginny Capicchioni has a great vision of how to test today’s high school goaltenders and help them with their future playing opportunities,” said Barnhill. “I am very excited to be a part of this new and specialized event. This will provide a competitive atmosphere where goaltenders can be personally challenged.”